He is perhaps best known for directing Antarctica (1983), which won several awards and was entered into the 34th Berlin International Film Festival.

[1] He also co-directed Hiroshima (1995) with Roger Spottiswoode, which was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries.

He was born in Kuching, Kingdom of Sarawak (now a state of Malaysia) on Borneo,[2] to an agricultural engineer.

[2] He made his directorial debut in 1957 with I Am Waiting, starring Yujiro Ishihara,[4] and gained recognition for his bold camera work and angles.

After going freelance in 1967, he helmed a succession of blockbusters and popular works including Safari 5000, The Glacier Fox, The Gate of Youth and See You.